US National Team
"At first, most people were like, 'We don't want no damn American,'" Abdel says. "They thought Bob was all about fitness. His teams won because they were in the best shape. But now they've gotten to see the man and know the man. And they love him. Now, he's a rock star. He's bigger than Obama."
When Bob Bradley accepted the job at the helm of the Egyptian national team last September, he ended up signing on for much more than the position of head coach.
In the eight months since his signing – a period during which Egypt have lost only once in 10 matches – the former United States boss has come to realize that in a country so heavily impacted by political turmoil and soccer tragedy, his role transcends the sport.
In an ESPN "Outside the Lines" special, senior writer Wayne Drehs takes a first-hand look at coaching an Egyptian side desperate for success in the world of soccer, and what it will take for Bradley to lead the national team to the 2014 World Cup – for just the third time in 80 years.
Read the full interview here and check out this video of Bradley discussing his time in the Middle East.
Earlier this week, MLSsoccer.com profiled Earthquakes right back Steven Beitashour as a player that could be on US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann's radar.
Turns out, Klinsmann and US Soccer may have to move sooner rather than later if that's the case.
Beitashour, who led the Quakes last year with seven assists and already has four to his name in 2012, holds dual US-Iranian citizenship. According to Centerline Soccer's Robert Jonas, the San Jose native has been contacted by the Iranian national team, but not yet by the United States:
Steven Beitashour after #SJEarthquakes training: "It's been a goal of mine, since I was a little kid, to play in the World Cup."
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
Beitashour said he hasn't been contacted by #USSoccer, but with USA/Iran dual citizenship, says he has another option, play for Iran.
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
#SJEarthquakes defender Steven Beitashour on playing for Iran "They've contacted me a couple of times about getting into some of the camps."
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
Beitashour, born in the US, still favors playing for the #USMNT "Hopefully the US will come calling. If I get a chance, I'll impress them."
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
So it appears for the time being, Beitashour will hold out for a call from Klinsmann. But if the coach dawdles in calling up the third-year defender, Beitashour could easily be added to US Soccer's list of ones that got away.
Power 5: Steven Beitashour on Klinsmann's radar?
This week, US internationals pose all over Europe for photos, a soccer journalist examines a bizzarre photo of Arshavin, and Charlie Davies takes FIFA 12 to a whole new level.
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US International Kljestan won his first trophy, as Anderlecht clinched the Belgian League title. This photo is very, well, euro. We like it. Congrats Sacha.
Finally… Champions… What a feeling. http://twitpic.com/9iujc4
— Sacha Kljestan (@SachaKljestan) May 8, 2012
Former D.C. United striker Davies is back in France with Sochaux. He is causing all kinds of damage with his brother, over a video game.
This is what happens when my brother @jbdavies16 and I wrestle because I was whooping him in FIFA lol http://instagr.am/p/KXzOLPBWvp/
— Charlie Davies (@CharlieDavies9) May 8, 2012
Soccer journalist and presenter of the Best Soccer show, Davis gave three alternatives for photo captions which should have been used in this photo of Arshavin celebrating. Hilarious!
1. He might enjoying this too much. 2. It's like if you touch Arshavin, you get a wish. 3. The guy on the left. http://ow.ly/aKELV
— Jason Davis (@davisjsn) May 7, 2012
Gooch is looking suave in this magazine shoot for the latest edition of Men's Health in Portugal. Usually that kind of glance strikes fear into the opposition, but don't worry he's not angry, the US center back is in the zone for his close-up.
Everyone in Portugal... Don't forget to get this months edition of Men's Health Magazine.... Bless! http://pic.twitter.com/AwGByYR6
— Oguchi Onyewu(@OguchiOnyewu5) May 7, 2012
Martino is a thoughtful husband and a wonderful color commentator on NBC Sports Network. (P.S. check out his Twitter avatar, was this the result of his shaving mishap?!)
Not trying to wake your wife up at 530 am by shaving in the dark leaves some unintentional facial hair statements.
— Kyle Martino(@kylemartino) May 8, 2012
If you see a soccer tweet that should be included in our top five, be sure to send it to the @MLS_Insider!
Take a few minutes of your time to watch New York Red Bulls and US national team star Juan Agudelo talk about his childhood memories playing the game he loves – badminton.
Just kidding.
No offense to badminton, but Agudelo has grown up with soccer on the brain since, apparently, birth.
His first word was one you'd expect from a soccer obsessed child, instead of uttering "Mom" or "Dad" Agudelo screamed "Goooooaaal!"
As a youngster, the lightning-quick winger also scribbled a note on the back wall of his closet, a reminder to help make his dream become a reality:
"John pro soccer player. If God lets me or if he wants me to. Or maybe a pro basketball player. It's all up to me and God."
The video is part of Team Kellogg's new series "Start Stories," which looks at how young US athletes got started in the sport they now get paid to play.
Landon Donovan's goal versus Algeria in the 2010 World Cup lives on. For USMNT fans, it's going to live in the memory for a long time.
And now we can all re-live it via this video from a former MLSsoccer.com intern named Albert Lanzillo. Inspired by English artist Richard Swarbrick's gorgeous animated film about Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale, Albert made his animation for a school project.
Don't know about you, but we'll give him an A.
As you can see above, Clint Dempsey is a company man, even if there is significant doubt as to his long-term future with Fulham.
Dempsey scored his 17th goal of the EPL campaign on Sunday – a total that trails only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Agüero – by curling a free kick into the top corner in the London club's 2-1 victory against Sunderland.
And with the silly season rapidly approaching, media on the other side of the pond are already rounding into mid-summer form, linking the American striker with a move to Arsenal – potentially as a replacement for van Persie should the lure of Manchester City or another big-money suitor draw the Dutchman away.
Should that come off, it's safe to say the Gunners are going to have a serious uptick in interest in the US. Then again, Arsenal's Champions League credentials aren't yet secured either, leaving some doubt about their summer strategy and their ability to attract the big names needed to return to the highest rung on the European ladder.
Personally, I'd love to see an American ply their trade in La Liga, and this article makes a pretty convincing argument that Malaga wouldn't be a bad destination for Deuce.
Where would you do if you were Dempsey? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
This week, US internationals playing in Scotland pine for US shores, a New York Red Bull encounters strange things in Manhattan, and an American pundit defends the honor of the Wigan manager's nomenclature.
Don't forget to follow our two official Twitter handles to find out the latest from inside MLS Follow@MLS_Insider Follow@MLS
Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty has a slightly bizarre experience when hunting for an apartment in Manhattan.
Looked at an apartment n the city and what do I see a dude doin n the communal garden? Yea...knife throwing. #onlyinNYC http://twitpic.com/9g5yfr
— Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) May 1, 2012
Is this a hint that US national team midfielder Maurice Edu would like to return from Scotland to America? Better question: Can Mo do the Carlton Banks dance?
Fresh Prince of Bel Air is one of the greatest shows ever! Lol
— Maurice Edu (@MauricEdu) May 3, 2012
One of Edu's Glasgow Rangers Yankee teammates also gets nostalgic about the USA -- video-game style!
Anyone remember playing this when they were younger!?? #OldSchool http://instagr.am/p/KFaQbsmX7P/
— Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) May 1, 2012
ESPN's Alexi Lalas begs English wordsmiths to give Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez some credit for his managerial prowess, oh, and to get his name right too.
Dear England: After what Roberto Martínez has given you I think he deserves to get his accented second syllable back. Gracias.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) April 28, 2012
Fox Socer pundit Costigan takes a tour around Boston for the first time, on route to met Red Sox and Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner. Safe to say he is impressed.
Entering Fenway to interview Tom Werner for @FOXSoccer What an incredible stadium http://yfrog.com/oe8gngxj
— Keith Costigan (@KeithCostigan) April 30, 2012
If you see a soccer tweet that should be included in our top five, be sure to send it to the @MLS_Insider!
Former Baylor University quarterback Robert Griffin III has been in the news a lot recently, but mostly because of his impending jump to the NFL. Yawn.
But RG3 crossed into the world of soccer last week when he tweeted out that he had just met Alex Morgan, she of US women's national team and SI Swimsuit edition fame.
Which is pretty cool, except that's totally not what happened.
@RGIII I think u met @TobinHeath today but hopefully I'll see u around. Good luck in the draft!
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) April 19, 2012
Eventually everything got cleared up and everyone had a good laugh about it. But it just goes to show that even the most talented among us sometimes make dumb mistakes.
And probably that Tobin Heath's agent should get on the phone with Sports Illustrated right now.
Club teams are rarely compared against national teams for obvious reasons.
But the 6-0-0 start by Sporting Kansas City has us thinking: Would the US national team coached by Jurgen Klinsmann even have a chance against today's Sporting KC starting XI if they played head-to-head?
Klinsmann has often spoken of his desire for a proactive, aggressive style that he wants to see the US impose on other countries. He has talked about wanting to raise the level of fitness of the US player.
Well, Sporting's Peter Vermes has beaten him to the punch on both those fronts and implemented the most successful 4-3-3 in the land. And it's only a matter of time before Vermes enters the discussion that often includes Jason Kreis and Dominic Kinnear as future USMNT head coaching prospects.
It's only fantasy talk -- unless Sporting KC and the USMNT met in a scrimmage of some sort -- but who would you take in that battle? Vote here.
Let's play a game of "Name That Soccer Nation!"
- Yellow jerseys = ?
- Blue jerseys = ?
- Light-blue-and-white-striped jerseys = ?
You got them right, didn't you? Because Brazil, Italy, and Argentina have long-defined aesthetic identities. You turn on the TV and if one of them -- or Holland or Spain or Germany -- is playing, you can recognize them without even a second glance. In other words, you know what those jerseys stand for before you even hear who is wearing them.
Now think back over the past couple of decades of US jerseys. How many can you remember?
The denim kit, of course. Novelty is always easy. There was a sash or two, I think, but I'm not sure I remember the color of said sashes. Then there was that gun-metal gray thing that still makes me think the designer spilled mercury on his keyboard when he was typing in the CMYK code.
Anyway, on Monday, US Soccer revealed the latest new US national team jersey, as they do every two years or so. To be perfectly honest, I don't mind it. It's got decent colors, a little character, and with apologies to FC Dallas is relatively unique on the international stage.
But then again, I didn't mind any of the other ones.
And that's the point: None of them ever sticks around long enough for me to care one way or the other. Which seems to suggest that the US lacks a true identity. I guess that's part of what Jurgen Klinsmann talks about when he talks about "finding the American style" and all that other stuff. Maybe, just maybe, he'll convince the federaion that to truly ever define the American style of playing, it would be good once and for all to define the American style of dressing.
